Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Winter Newsletter 2004 Annual Meeting A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT GARY W. ABRAMS, MD Highlights New Meeting t its meet- reimbursement in clinical medicine Schedule ing in and increasing competition for Visit www.arvo.org to see specific AOctober, research grants. Dr. Robert Weinreb, schedule and make your travel The Association in a symposium at the annual meet- plans accordingly. for Research in ing of The Association of University Keynote Session Vision and Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) ARVO is honored to host two dis- Ophthalmology in January, 2004, spoke on the tinguished speakers at the 2005 (ARVO) Board of importance of the clinician-scientist Keynote Session. NIH Director, Trustees discussed several issues as part of the research enterprise. He Elias A. Zerhouni, and acclaimed directly impacting the present and proposed the question, "Are clini- Nobel Laureate, Peter Agre will future nature of our organization. cian-scientists needed?" He answered that "clinician-scientists are vitally speak on Sunday night. Disciplines vs. Specialties important and necessary in order to Wireless Internet Access Many of the older discipline-based identify clinically relevant questions In addition to expanded free secure Sections are experiencing a decline in to answer in the laboratory, solve Internet access in the ARVO membership. Contributing to this problems through rigorous clinical Internet Suite and Cyber Café, decline has been a shift over the years investigation, and translate laboratory Wireless Internet hot spots will be at ARVO (and in training programs discoveries into new methods for located in designated areas of the in general) away from disciplines diagnosis, prevention, and treatment Convention Center. Refer to the (anatomy, bio- of eye disease. Meeting Update for locations and chemistry, “With a strong, stable membership, They are access information, and look for physiology, exceptional financial position, and dedi- needed to signs in the Convention Center etc.) to more cated volunteers, we are prepared mentor the identifying the hot spots. integrative pro- [for]... a rich future,” next generation ARVO Social in Exhibit Hall grams. A shift ARVO President, Gary W. Abrams, MD of clinician-sci- The popular ARVO Social on away from discipline-based programs entists, fill the Sunday, May 1, will be located in to integrated programs has also void between the laboratory and the Hall B/C and exhibitors will be occurred in graduate training in the clinic, and to articulate and advocate available at their booths. biomedical sciences. Most institu- the clinical relevance of basic and ARVOJobs and Career Fair translational research." Elias tions have dropped discipline degree On Tuesday, from 12:00 PM - Zerhouni, the director of the offerings in favor of more integrated 4:00 PM, you will have the oppor- programs. Are ARVO discipline National Institutes of Health (NIH) tunity to speak with representatives Sections outdated? ARVO must eval- has noted that "…exciting basic sci- from industry, academia, and gov- uate whether there is a better way to ence discoveries demand that clinical ernment about opportunities with represent Sections so that we move to research continue and even expand, their organizations at the ARVO a more integrated approach in the while striving to improve efficiency Career Fair, located in the future. A working group of past and better inform basic science." Registration area, adjacent to the ARVO Trustees is looking closely at Among NIH initiatives to expand the ARVOJobs Placement Center.n this issue and other key aspects of clinical enterprise will be increased ARVO’s governance as we position efforts to provide advanced training IN THIS ISSUE the Association for the future. in clinical research through existing ARVO Elections . .2 and new programs to train clinician- Letter to Members on Open Access . .4 scientists and new programs aimed at Clinician Scientist Committees . .6 "Endangered Species" institutions and clinical centers. ARVO Advocacy & NEI/NIH News . .7-10 The clinician-scientist faces many ARVO has the opportunity to join JOV . .12 challenges in a time of declining with the AUPO and the NIH to raise President’s Message continued on page 3 IOVS . .13 ARVOELECTIONS 2004 - 2005 2005 Trustee Election Officers ll voting members (Regular, Family, Sustaining, Life, and Family Life) of the Retina Gary W. Abrams, MD A(RE) and Physiology and Pharmacology (PH) Sections will elect Trustees in 2005 at President their Sections Business Meeting in Fort Lauderdale. Proxies and candidate information will Thomas Yorio, PhD be distributed in February, 2005. Vice President PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY RETINA Larry J. Takemoto, PhD Nicholas Delamere, PhD Paul Sternberg, MD University of Louisville Vanderbilt University Medical Center President-Elect M. Christine McGahan, PhD Yasuo Tano, MD Joel M. Miller, PhD North Carolina State University Osaka University Medical School Vice President-Elect Proxies may be registered online or mailed to the ARVO Office. Advance proxies must be Steven E. Wilson, MD registered by April 18, 2004. Instructions for both methods of registering your proxy will be Vice President-Elect included in the election mailing. Proxies may also be cast in person or amended in the 15- minute period preceding the Section Business Meeting. Election results will be announced Sally S. Atherton, PhD in the corresponding Section's Business Meeting.n Immediate Past President Paul L. Kaufman, MD Sections to Nominate Trustees in 2005 Executive Vice President At their Sections’ Business Meeting, the following Sections will nominate candidates for Trustee: • Cornea (CO) • Eye Movements, Strabismus, Amblyopia and Neuro-Ophthalmology (EY) ARVO Office • Lens (LE) Joanne G. Angle The ARVO Bylaws stipulate that "each standing Scientific Section whose Trustee's term of Executive Director office will expire at the end of the following year's Annual Meeting shall nominate no Kimberly M. O’Sullivan more than two (2) candidates, one of whom will be elected as the Successor Trustee at the following year's Scientific Section's separate business meeting, which will take place at the Publications Coordinator Annual Meeting." 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 250 Rockville, MD 20852-1606 All members are encouraged to consider who will best represent their Sections in this Phone: (240) 221-2900 important role.n Fax: (240) 221-0370 Volunteer Today For An ARVO Committee RVO committees are active in many the only face-to-face meetings typically Aareas; developing programs, enhancing occurring in conjunction with the ARVO member services, assisting the Board of Annual Meeting making participation by Trustees in the leadership of the Members outside the US possible and Association. Each year, ARVO members convenient. have the chance to express interest in serv- To be considered for appointment, visit ing on a committee and playing a more the committees page under "About ARVO" active role in filling these critical committee on the ARVO Web site. Here you can view functions. Service on an ARVO committee committee descriptions and learn more will bring you close to the inner-workings about the work of the committees. A of the Association, providing opportunities Volunteer form can be found on the Web There is still time to become a for personal and professional development site at the committee main page and on member of ARVO, renew your and advancement. each committee's individual page. All indi- membership or register for the Appointments to ARVO committees are viduals completing this form online will be 2005 Annual Meeting – made each year by the President-Elect. considered for appointment in 2005. New committee appointees are encouraged To learn more about committee partici- Global Networking! to attend committee functions at the pation, you may also contact ARVO Annual Meeting prior to the commence- Director of Governance and Strategic www.arvo.org ment of their terms at the close of the Initiatives Robert Rupp at [email protected] Annual Meeting. Throughout the year, or 240-221-2912.n committees meet via conference call, with 2 www.arvo.org RVO is redesigning its Web site and we ! ted Aneed your help. We are looking for Calendar an reviewers to provide guidance and feedback on W the new design and functionality. To sign up Important Dates and elp H to be a reviewer or to find out more, please Upcoming Events contact TJ Rainsford, director of technology & web services, at [email protected] 2005 January 21-22 Program Committee Meeting President’s Message continued from page 1 January 25 DEADLINE for Abstract awareness of issues facing clinician-scientists. ARVO has embarked on a series of initiatives Withdrawal (if withdrawn to recognize clinician-scientists in training, provide career development information to new after this date, abstract(s) will still appear in Meeting and budding clinician-scientists, advocate for development of a mechanism to provide publications bridge funding for young clinician-scientists during the K award development process, February 24 Notification of Abstract promote communication among clinician-scientists at all stages of development and pro- Acceptance and mote international development of clinician-scientists. (More information on page 8). Abstract Search Program available at www.arvo.org International Outreach March 4 DEADLINE for 2006 The global funding needs for eye and vision research are significant and are growing every ARVO